… Countries such as Ethiopia and Bangladesh provide valuable lessons. Both nations started with relatively small enterprises before developing competitive manufacturing industries that now employ millions of people. …
… African countries that will continue to have visa services include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria. …
… Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the 10 at-risk countries are South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Congo, Burundi, Angola, the Central African Republic, and Zambia. …
… The handover was conducted under the constitution of the Society for AIDS in Africa and overseen by the Board of Trustees, which is made up of professor Robert Soudre of Burkina Faso, professor Sheila Tlou of Botswana, and Dr Meskerem Grunitzky of Ethiopia. …
… Africa Day commemorates the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 25 May 1963, now known as the African Union. …
… These individuals originate from several countries, including Bangladesh, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Palestine, Russia, Rwanda, So …
… He also served as Namibia’s ambassador to France from 1999 to 2006, before being appointed ambassador to Ethiopia, the African Union and the Economic Commission for Africa in 2006. …
… Other African countries to have announced similar measures include Zambia, Namibia and Ghana, while South Sudan announced electricity rationing and Ethiopia prioritised certain sectors to deal with the crisis. …
An editorial argues that while Namibia needs to build domestic manufacturing capacity rather than rely on imports, the thousands of young people earning livelihoods through "Order With Me" import businesses should not be dismissed. The piece contends these entrepreneurs demonstrate innovation and market responsiveness, and government should support their transition toward higher-value activities rather than treating them as illegitimate.
An editorial argues that while Namibia needs to build domestic manufacturing capacity rather than rely on imports, the thousands of young people earning livelihoods through "Order With Me" import businesses should not be dismissed. The piece contends these entrepreneurs demonstrate innovation and market responsiveness, and government should support their transition toward higher-value activities rather than treating them as illegitimate.
The US State Department is reportedly cutting visa-issuing consulates and embassies on the African continent, including Namibia's, according to the Associated Press. The closest remaining visa-processing hubs would be South Africa's consulates in Cape Town and Johannesburg, or Angola's Luanda consulate.
Two of Namibia's neighbours, Angola and Zambia, are among ten African countries at risk of Ebola exposure as an outbreak spreads in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has recorded about 750 suspected cases and 177 deaths. The May 2026 outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no vaccine and mortality rates can reach up to 50 per cent.
Former Namibian health minister Dr Richard Kamwi has been appointed president of the Society for AIDS in Africa, an organisation focused on strengthening the continent's response to HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis, emerging infectious diseases and broader public health issues. The appointment followed a leadership handover ceremony and executive board transition meeting held in Accra, Ghana on 14–15 May.
Namibia marked Africa Day with renewed calls for continental unity and self-reliance. President Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that African nations face economic disruptions, climate change, disease outbreaks and geopolitical uncertainty, and urged strengthening regional cooperation, intra-African trade, and investment in local institutions.
Apodissi and Youth4Can have launched the Synapse project, an EU-funded three-year virtual exchange initiative co-funded under the Erasmus+ programme, designed to equip more than 2,500 young people—including women, youth from rural communities, and those with disabilities—with critical skills in leadership, innovation, and systems thinking. The project brings together institutions from Italy, Spain, Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Ethiopia, and Malawi to strengthen collaboration between African and European youth.
The Ministry of Home Affairs says Angolan nationals, including children on Namibian streets, do not qualify for refugee status under Namibian law and international conventions, as they left Angola seeking socio-economic opportunities rather than fleeing persecution.
Nigeria is planning to repatriate its nationals in South Africa willing to return home voluntarily, with 130 applicants already registered, as the foreign minister condemns recent attacks on foreigners and xenophobic rhetoric. Nigeria has summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner and says it will convey its "profound concern" about incidents including marches by anti-immigrant groups and documented mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and businesses.
Sabastian Sawe became the first athlete to run a sub-two hour marathon in race conditions, clocking 1hr 59min 30sec in London on 26 April 2026. He received a hero's welcome on his return to Kenya, where President William Ruto compared his achievement to historic milestones including the first four-minute mile and the moon landing.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah appointed former ambassador Wilfried Emvula as chairperson of the National Governing Council of the African Peer Review Mechanism in Namibia, with ten members inaugurated for a term to January 2030. The council, established under the APRM Statute, will provide strategic oversight and ensure transparency in governance reforms aligned with Namibia's development plan and Africa's Agenda 2063.
Kenya's energy regulator has raised diesel and petrol prices to record levels, citing higher global oil and shipping costs exacerbated by conflict in Iran, even as the government cut value-added tax to cushion consumers. The increase occurs alongside a fuel quality scandal and reports of shortages, though officials say stocks are sufficient.
Namibian model Laina Mwatukange is representing the country at the Miss African Essence International Pageant in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, scheduled for 3 May. The 27-year-old journalism student says the pageant focuses on showcasing African identity, leadership, and storytelling among young women rather than traditional beauty metrics.
A Yale University research lab's analysis of satellite imagery and open-source data shows that an Ethiopian military base near the Sudanese border is providing support to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which has been at war with Sudan's army since April 2023. The researchers identified repeated deliveries of light pickup trucks and heavy weapons to the base that were later observed in RSF operations in Sudan's Blue Nile state, contradicting Ethiopia's denials of involvement in the conflict.
Renewable energy accounted for nearly half of global power capacity by the end of 2025, with solar and wind driving a record 15.5% annual increase in renewable capacity. Africa's renewable capacity rose by a record 15.9%, but the continent added only 1.6% of global additions, with growth concentrated in Ethiopia, South Africa and Egypt.
Ismail Omar Guelleh, who has ruled Djibouti since 1999, is poised to extend his control of the strategically important Horn of Africa nation in a presidential election widely dismissed as uncompetitive, with the opposition divided and a human rights monitor calling it a "masquerade."
Senegal's prime minister has banned government ministers from non-essential foreign travel due to rising oil prices stemming from the Iran conflict, with the cost of a barrel approaching double the budgeted amount. The move reflects a broader continental response to oil price rises, with other African countries reducing fuel levies, rationing electricity, and implementing other cost-cutting measures.
Ethiopia will prioritise vehicles transporting essential goods and public transport at fuel stations as the country faces shortages caused by the Middle East war and Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world's oil normally passes. The Horn of Africa nation, which imports all its petrol primarily from the Gulf, has seen daily diesel supply fall from 9.2 million litres to 4.5 million litres.
Communal farmers associations in Namibia remain underutilised despite their potential to drive employment, food security, and rural development. The article argues that independent auditing, trained administration, market partnerships, revenue diversification, and leveraging the resettlement programme are essential to transform these organisations from subsistence-level operations into engines of rural prosperity.
Following Senegal's January 2025 AFCON title being stripped by CAF after players walked off the pitch, social media posts claim Morocco won their 1976 title the same way. An AFP investigation found no evidence that Moroccan players left the pitch in 1976, with eyewitnesses and archival research confirming Morocco won that tournament "fairly, by the book."
Ethiopians are sleeping in overnight queues for petrol as shortages worsen, caused by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global oil supplies. Ethiopia, which imports all its petrol primarily from the Gulf and relies on the port of Djibouti, is particularly vulnerable to the supply disruption affecting businesses and drivers.
Burundi and Ethiopia secured comfortable away victories in preliminary round matches, moving toward securing places in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying phase. Burundi defeated Chad 4-0 and Ethiopia beat Sao Tome e Principe 3-0, with return matches scheduled for Tuesday.
South Sudan and Mauritius have announced electricity rationing measures due to fuel shortages triggered by the US and Israel's conflict with Iran, which is disrupting energy supplies across Africa. Several other African countries including Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda are implementing fuel conservation measures and facing supply shortages or price increases.
The number of migrants who died on the "Eastern Route" from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula doubled to 922 in 2025, according to the UN's International Organisation for Migration. The majority of victims were from Ethiopia, with tens of thousands crossing the Red Sea annually from Djibouti to Yemen in search of work in Gulf countries.
Minister of Home Affairs Lucia Iipumbu said Namibia has made significant progress in implementing its integrated, digital civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system, including e-Birth and e-Death notification systems since 2017–2018 that connect 153 facilities. The minister welcomed delegates from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for a learning visit aimed at strengthening CRVS systems across African nations to support legal identity achievement by 2030.
Namibia's digital healthcare transformation, including its e-Birth and e-Death notification systems introduced since 2017, is being showcased as a model for other African countries during an Africa CDC learning visit in Windhoek. The systems, which now connect 153 health facilities and have achieved over 99% birth registration coverage, represent the government's commitment to modernizing healthcare delivery and civil registration through technology.
The world indoor athletics championships begin Friday in Torun, Poland, with notable competitions including Keely Hodgkinson aiming to win the women's 800m after setting an indoor world record, Armand Duplantis pursuing a fourth world indoor pole vault title, and high-quality fields in the women's high jump, men's 60m, and men's 3,000m.
Heavy rainfall over the past week has triggered deadly flash floods across Kenya, with at least 66 deaths recorded and more than 2,000 people displaced from their homes. Poor drainage and obstruction of rivers from unregulated development have worsened flooding in Nairobi, where half the deaths have occurred, while authorities continue search-and-rescue operations.
Somalia's Puntland Defence Forces, supported by US drone strikes and intelligence, are conducting sustained military operations against Islamic State fighters entrenched in the al-Miskad mountains. Though IS-Somalia's local threat capacity has diminished, the group remains a resilient organisation and continues to serve as a hub supporting Islamic State affiliates across Africa and beyond.
Windhoekers celebrated the book launch of Marisa 'Mel' Kelly's second book, 'The Limbo Circus & Other Short Stories', published by Modjaji Books. The nine-story collection draws on Kelly's travels through southern Africa and personal experiences, including work at London Zoo and as a veterinary nurse.
China has announced zero-tariff treatment for imports from 53 African countries beginning May 1, 2026, a policy intended to enhance African exporters' competitiveness, support industrialization, and strengthen China-Africa relations through trade-led development rather than aid-dependent frameworks.